Next boss Simon Wolfson joins the Lords as Tory

Next chief executive Simon Wolfson today took his seat in the House of Lords as a Tory peer.

He will be known as Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise, 42, and chose his father, Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale, a fellow Tory peer, as one of his two supporters when taking the oath.

Wolfson backed David Cameron's campaign for the Tory leadership and has donated almost £300,000 to the party since he became leader.

He co-chaired the party's economic competitiveness policy review and was a prominent supporter of its plans to reverse Labour's National Insurance rise in the run-up to the election.

Also taking their seats today were former Treasury Select Committee chairman John McFall and ex-chief whip Hilary Armstrong, both former Labour MPs.

Lord McFall of Alcluith, 65, had been an MP in Dunbartonshire since 1987 and chaired the Treasury Select Committee from 2001 until this year's election. His two supporters included former city minister Lord Myners.

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, 64, stood down at the general election after 23 years as MP for Durham North West. She was chief whip from 2001 to 2006 then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until 2007.

The three peers, who were part of a batch of 56 new members of the upper chamber appointed after the general election, wore ermine to take part in the traditional ceremony of introduction.